Uncoupling apparatus.



PATENTED MAY 2, 1905.

0. A. LINDSTBUM.

UNGOUPLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 23,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITN ESSES Patented May 2, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. L'INDSTROM, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE PRESSED STEEL (JAR COMPANY, OF MCKEES ROCKS, PENN SYLVANI A.

UNCOUPLING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 788,544, dated May 2, 1905.

Application filed July 23, 1904. Serial No. 217,780.

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. LINDs'rRoM, of the city of Allegheny, in the cou nty of Alleghen y and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Uncoupling Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is an end elevation of a railroadcar, illustrating my improved device partly in section. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the end of a car, showing my improved device. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the end of a car, showing my improved device. Fig. 4L is a detached perspective view of the uncoupling-shafts Fig. 5 is avertical sectional view through the supporting-trunnions of the uncoupling-lever. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the same. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a modification; and Fig. 8 is a plan view of the uncoupling-lever, showing one of the trunnions and its journal partly in section. Fig. 9 is a section on the line IX IX of Fig. 6.

Like symbols of reference indicate like parts wherever they occur.

My invention relates to an improvement in devices for uncoupling railroad-cars; and'it consists of independent operating shafts adapted to engage with the uncourfling-lever and operate the same, each shaft being arranged to operate independently of the other and to engage with the trunnion of the uncoupling-lever, as is hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings, 2 and 3 represent the two operating-shafts, which are supported at their outer ends in suitable brackets 4 near the side of the ear and are at these ends provided with hand levers 5. These shafts 2 and 3 pass through slots or openings in the vertical stakes 6 and enter cavities in the ends of the trunnions 7 of the uncoupling-lever 8. The trunnions 7 of the lever 8 are journaled in suit able bearings 9, which are bolted to the platform 10 of the car. These bearings are composed of two partsan upper part 17 and a lower part 18-the two parts encircling the shaft and being held together by projections 21 in the upper part extending into cavities 22 in the lower part. Both parts of these bearings are provided with lips 23, which prevent lateral movement of the shaft, the keylugs 12 and 13 being retained thereby. The cavities of the trunnions 7 are provided with shoulders 11, adapted to engage the key lug or lugs 12 and 13, formed on or secured to the ends of the shafts 2 and 3, that [it in the cavities of the trunnions 7. The ends of the shafts 2 and 3 lit loosely in the trunnions 7, so that when the shafts are rotated the lugs 12 and 13 shall engage with the shoulders 11 when the shafts are rotated in one direction and shall move away from the same when the shafts are rotated reversely. The outer end of the uncoupling-lever 8 is secured to the coupling-pin 14 by a chain 15 in the usual manner.

In Fig. 7 I show the hand-levers 5 extending down over the sides of the car instead of over the end sills.

Owing to the ends of the shafts 2 and 3 fitting loosely in the cavities of the trunnions 7 and the fact that the lugs 12 and 13 are not in any way connected with the shoulders 11 or with the trunnion of the lever, it is impossible for the lever 8 to be operated accidentally, nor does the reverse movement of the shafts 2 and 3 and the reverse movement of the lever 8 impart a reverse movement. from the shafts to the lever.

Owing to the fact that the lever-rods 2 and 3 have straight ends, the parts are easily assembled by passing the ends of the rods through the brackets 4: and the stake-sockets 6 into the cavity in the uncoupling-levertrunnions. The ends of the rods 2 and 3 are socured in the trunnion-sockets by means of the lips 23 of the journal-bearings 9.

The advantages of my invention will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. While each of the operating-shafts 2 and 3 has an in dependent movement one from the other and has a reverse movement independent of the uncoupling-lever 8 they have a positive direct movement with the lever, and owing to the straight ends of the operating-shafts the parts may be readily assembled and may be caused to pass through small openings in stake-sockets or other construction.

Although I have shown my uncoupling apparatus having but two hand-levers, I do not desire to limit myself to the same.

Havingthus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is*

1. In apparatus for uncoupling cars, the combination of an uncoupling-lever having trunnions,independently-operatingshafts,the ends of which extend within the trunnions of the uncoupling-lever, and devices for engaging the shaft with the trunnion on the forward rotation of the shaft; substantially as specified.

2. In apparatus for uncoupling cars, the combination of an uncoupling-lever having trunnions,independently-operatingshafts,the ends of which fit within the trunnions, lugs in the end of the shafts and shoulders in the cavity of the trunnions, whereby the shafts may be operated independently of each other and may receive a reverse movement independently of the uncoupling-lever; substantially as specified.

3. In apparatus for uncoupling cars, the combination of an uncoupling-lever having trunnions,independently-operatingshafts,the ends of which fit loosely in cavities in the trunnions, a lug formed on the end of the shaft, and a shoulder formed in the cavity of the trunnion, the lug of the shaft being adapted to engage with the shoulder of the trunnion on its forward rotation, and to move away from the shoulder of the trunnion on its reverse movement; substantially as specified.

L. In apparatus for uncoupling cars, an uncoupling-lever having trunnions, bearings for supporting the trunnions, said bearings being formed of an upper and lower portion, engaging with each other, and being loose upon the trunnions; substantially as specified.

5. In apparatus for uncoupling cars, an uncoupling-lever having trunnions,journal-bearings formed in two parts and having retaining-lips. and operating-shafts havingkey-lu gs adapted to be retained by the lips and to engage With the trunnions; substantially. as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto my hand.

CHARLES A. LINDSTROM.

Witnesses:

A. M. STEEN, JAMES K. BAKEWELL.

set 

